Born to Paula (Nath) and Herman Liesenberg in Chicago, Illinois. The family moved to a farm east of Little Black, WI when she was four. She received her grade school education at Spruce Grove School and graduated from Medford High School in 1945. She attended Taylor County Normal School, graduating in 1947 whereupon she taught all eight grades at Fairfield School. The following year, she was married to Frederick J. Duerr. She then taught sixth grade at Jefferson Elementary in Medford for six years, and later served as teacher and principal at Liberty School for two years. After teaching fourth grade at Abbotsford, she semi-retired for nine years to raise her daughter, Kristen, but was actively engaged as a substitute teacher during this time. In 1970, she completed her degree in education at UW Stevens Point, graduating summa cum laude. She then taught third grade at Brookside, later moving to MAES. She retired in 1990 after forty years of teaching.

She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church of Stetsonville, WI, serving as a Sunday School teacher and as a member of the church choir. She was a former member of the Medford Teachers’ Association in which she served as an officer for five consecutive years. She was also a member of the Wisconsin and National Education Association.

She enjoyed traveling extensively with her family throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. After the death of her husband, she moved to the Manitowoc area to be near her daughter and family.

Her life was enhanced by the beautiful flowers her husband planted year after year, and by the inspiring music performed by her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, Garth.

She is survived by her daughter, Kristen (Duerr) Neustadter and son-in-law, Gary Neustadter of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, one grandson, Garth Neustadter, of Los Angeles, California, three nieces, two nephews, a brother-in-law by marriage, several cousins, and lifelong friends, Hildegard and Loretta Kuse.

The family would like to thank Heartland Hospice and Brillion West Haven Assisted Living for their loving care.

A visitation will take place at Hemer Funeral Home, Medford, WI from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2nd. A private service will be held at a later time for the immediate family. Interment will be at Mt. Olive Cemetery, Westboro, WI.

The family requests that any memorial contributions be given to Zion Ev. Lutheran Church, Stetsonville, WI.

Gone From My Sight

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side, spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says, “There, she is gone.”

Gone where?

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast, hull and spar as she was when she left my side. And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port. And, just at the moment when someone says, “there, she is gone,” there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!’
H,VanDyke

We rest assured that Mom is enjoying a blessed reunion with her Savior, her beloved husband, Frederick, and her parents, Paula and Herman, free forever from pain.